A blog detailing the construction of the future home of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Alucobond Panel Installation

The installation of Alucobond panels is moving right along. The process includes varies steps. First, crews working for Sunrise Erectors screw galvanized light-gauge steel Z-clips through the ice and water shield (dark blue) that covers the building.

These clips are screwed in place every 16 inches, through the ice and water shield and into the metal stud of the exterior of the building. Between the Z-clips, 3-inch rigid Styrofoam insulation is put in place (light blue, above).

Across the face of the insulation the stand-off grid system is installed. These steel strips run vertically across the building. 90% of the stand-off grid work is complete.

The stips run vertically above and below the windows.

The Alucobond panels are clipped onto the stand-off steel grid.

At panel joints (where two panels meet) there is ½ inch spacing where you can see a reveal strip that is colored differently then the panels to give a shadow effect. On the second and third floors it is a dark bronze reveal and on the first floor it’s a gray reveal.

Panels are arriving on site every day from the fabrication shop, located in Canton, MA.

Sunrise Erectors also began installing cedar siding between windows on the West side of the building. Cedar accents were selected to help this side of the building conform to the look of the residential neighborhood. The cedar will be installed between windows on the third floor and in a section along the bottom of the windows on the second floor down to the Pavilion level.

Stainless Steel panels will run horizontally along the bottom of the building, wherever the building meets the ground or the lower level of the parking deck. Much like a back splash of a kitchen sink, this stainless steel will act as a back splash to handle things like salt, water and dirt that typically come in contact with this part of a building.